Is neuromuscular block necessary during surgery?

Hi doctor,

I am going to have laparoscopic surgery to remove an ovarian dermoid cyst. I am afraid of being under general anesthesia in the presence of neuromuscular blocks. Is there a way to ensure that I am unconscious before administering the neuromuscular block? I have read a horrible story about someone being paralyzed first, before the other drugs took effect and being conscious during intuition. Is a neuromuscular block necessary during this entire surgery or is it only in the beginning for intubation? Is it possible that intraoperative awareness is more common than we realize, because amnesia-inducing drugs erase people's memory of it? Or would anyone with conscious during surgery also have a memory of it? Are any sort of analgesics used in this surgery? Is it true that if I experience awareness I would also be experiencing severe pain? If heart rate and blood pressure are indeed sufficient indicators of awareness, then why have other healthy young people like myself experienced awareness while paralyzed without anyone noticing their stress response and therefore deepening the anesthesia? How was that able to occur and what would prevent it from occurring in my case? I read that some drugs used in anesthesia can block the body's normal stress response, so that heart rate and blood pressure would not increase even in a state of intense pain and anxiety. Would I be receiving any drugs that would produce such an effect, blocking my body's normal stress response and preventing those indicators of awareness? Is it possible to listen to a recording on headphones while in surgery? I have a guided relaxation tape that makes me more confident. I would stay unconscious or at least be able to cope with an awareness experience. Thank you so much for reading my questions and I look forward to hearing the answers.